Breast lifter for cotton gins



July 20, 1937. J. BLEWETT BREAST LIFTER FOR COTTON GINS Filed Aug. 50, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 20, 1937. .1. BLEWETT BREAST LIFTER FOR COTTON GINS 'Filed Aug. 50, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 rwc/wbcw Jo/m B/eweff July 20, 1937. J, BLEWETT 2,087,498

BREAST LIFTER FOR COTTON GINS Filed Aug. 50, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATE RATENT @FHQE BREAST LIFTER FOB. COTTON GINS Texas Application August 30,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in breast lifters for cotton gins.

In the ginning of cotton, it has been found that due to the fact that the cotton which is brought to the gin plant hosa considerable amount of hulls, trash, sticks, stems, etc., it is necessary to dump the contents from the roll box of the gin several times daily. Otherwise, the seed in the roll box becomes so mixed with this extraneous matter that said seed is undesirable for planting purposes. Also by keeping the roll box clean of this extraneous matter, a better sample may be obtained when ginning hully cotton.

To dump the contents of the roll box in the ordinary gin now in general use, it is necessary to first stop the gin and then lift the inner and outer fronts off the gin. The seed is then removed from the roll box with the hands. This not only is inconvenient to the gin operator, but it is obvious that to dump the contents of. the roll boxes of a fouror five-stand battery of gins, considerable time is spent in removing and replacing the fronts. ginning time, which causes expense to the gin operator.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, manually operated means for dumping the contents of the roll box of a cotton gin, whereby said box may be readily cleaned of seed, trash, etc. at any desired time and without halting the driving mechanism of the gin.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved means for swinging the huller breast of a cotton gin away from the inner ginning breast, said means having automatic locking means for locking the huller breast to the inner breast when the former is in an inner or closed position, said means also serving to lock the huller breast in its outer or open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lifter for swinging the huller breast which carries the huller ribs outwardly from the inner breast to permitthe escape of the contents of the roll box, together with means for aligning the two breasts when the huller breast is returned to its original closed position so that the huller ribs are positively aligned with the gin saws when said huller breast is returned, said 50 aligning means being readily adjustable to compensate for slight variations in the position of the huller ribs in various gins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of levers and links which operate swinging cams, said cams being attached to the ,inner This results in a loss of 1935, Serial No. 38,545

ginning breast of a cotton gin and arranged to move the huller breast outwardly when swung, the levers and links being so arranged as to lock the cam in its extreme positions, whereby the huller breast is locked in its outer or open posi- 5 tion, and is also locked to the inner breast when in its inner or closed position, whereby if desired, the huller and ginning breasts may be swung as a single unit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved lifter for the huller breast of a cotton gin, which is so constructed as to be readily attached to an ordinary gin, and which, when attached, will not interfere with the normal operation of said gin.

A construction designed to carry out the in-' vention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification 20 and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cotton gin, having a breast lifter, constructed in accordance with the invention attached thereto, and showing the huller breast in a closed or inner position,

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the huller breast swung outwardly to an open position,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the breast lifter, with the gin being shown in outline to illustrate the relation of the various parts to each other, 35

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical, vertical, sectional view of the gin,

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is an isometric View of the keeper,

Figure 7 is a partial side elevation of a gin having a modified form of the invention attached thereto, and

Figure 8 is an isometric view of the upper'end of the same.

In the drawings the numeral l0 designates a cotton gin which may be of the usual construction. The gin includes the ordinary supporting frame I! and the usual row of gin saws l2 are mounted transversely between the ends of the frame on a transverse saw shaft l3 (Figure 4), The ginning ribs l3 which are carried by the pivoted inner ginning breast l4 are disposed between the saws in the usualway. The huller ribs I5 which extend transversely within the pivoted huller breast I6 of the gin are located in alignment with the gin ribs, in the usual way when the huller breast is swung inwardly against the inner breast, as is clearly shown in Figure 1.- The above parts are all of the usual construction in cotton gins, and are therefore subject to variation. It will be seen that the usual roll box A is formed above the ginning and huller ribs I3 and I5, and duringthe operation of the gin, the roll will be built up in the roll box. The seeds which are ginned in the usual way will, of course, escape between the gin ribs I3 and the huller ribs I5 in an ordinary manner.

It has been found that when ginning hully cotton, or cotton which has trash, sticks and stems mixed therewith, that it is desirable to dump the contents of the roll box at intervals because the trash, sticks and other extraneous matter will accumulate in said roll box, whereby a poorer sample is obtained through ginning. There is no set time when this roll box should be emptied, as the condition of the cotton introduced into the gin will control. Sometimes it is found necessary to empty the contents of the roll box several times daily, whereas other times only a single emptying per day is found sufficient. In all cases, however, it is desirable that the roll box be emptied at some time.

For emptying the roll box, it will be seen that if the huller breast I6 is swung on its pivot H which is near the upper end of said huller breast, the lower end of said huller breast is swung outwardly away from the inner ginning breast I4. When said huller breast swings away from the inner breast, it will be seen by observing Figure 4, that the huller ribs are swung from between the ginning saws I2 and away from the gin ribs I3. Thus the contents of the roll box A may escape through this space which when the huller breast is in its inner or closed position is the seed-outlet.

For quickly and easily swinging the huller breast I6 on its pivot IT, a pair of cam members I8 are provided. The cam members are mounted one on the outer side of each end wall of the cotton gin, as clearly shown in Figure 3, and since the structure of the cam members and their operating link is exactly the same, it is believed that a description of one will suflice. Each cam member I8 is pivoted on the outer end of a transverse shaft I8 which extends between the end wall of the gin. It is noted that the cam is located on the outside of said wall and is disposed nearer the lower end of the inner breast I4. As clearly shown in Figure 1 the cam member is preferably cast, and is provided with a-hookmember I9 at the upper end of the cam face 20. The lower end of the cam face 28 is provided with a recess 2I. When the huller breast I6 is in its inner or closed position, the location of the cam member I8 is such that the hook member I3 engages over a pin 22 which extends outwardly from the side of the huller breast. The engagement of the hook I9 over said pin serves to lock the huller breast I8 to the inner ginning breast I4, whereby the two breasts may be swung as a single unit on the pivot of the inner breast I4.

Extending upwardly from the pivot point of the cam members I8 is an arm 28 which is preferably cast integral with the cam member. For swinging the cam member so that its cam face will ride against the pin 22, an elongated adjustable connecting link 23 has its lower endv pivoted to the upper end of the arm 28'. The upper end of the link is curved rearwardly of the 'gin and is pivoted to a curved hand lever 24, as

is clearly shown in Figure 3. The curved hand a lever has its lower end pivotally mounted on the outer end of a transverse shaft which extends between the end walls of the gin and is suitably mounted in bracket 26. Due to the upper curved end of the link 23 being pivoted to the curved lever 24 it will be seen that when the huller breast I6 is in a closed or inner position, with the hook I9 of the cam member I8 engaging over the pin 22, that the pivotal connection 23' of said link with said lever is at a point beyond the vertical axis of the transverse shaft 25. Therefore the pivotal connection 23' is beyond the center of the pivot 25 of the manual operating lever 24. Since it is past center, it will be seen that such disposition will serve to lock the lever, link 23 and cam member I8 in this position. Therefore, when the huller breast I6 has been moved toits inner position in engagement with the front face of the inner breast I4, it is impossible for said huller breast to be swung outwardly until such time as the lever 24 is swung downwardly through a manual operation because the various parts are locked in position. This eliminates any danger of the hook I9 disengaging the pin 22 to permit a separation of the two breasts until such time as the operator may so desire.

When it is desired to swing the huller breast I8 outwardly to open the space between the huller ribs I5 and the ginning ribs I3 to permit an escape of the contents from the roll box A, it will be seen that a downward pull on the lever 24 will, of course, cause the link 23 to move downwardly also. The downward movement of the elongated link 23 will cause the cam member I8 to be swung on its pivot shaft I8. As said cam member is swung the cam face 20 of said cam member will ride against the pin 22 which extends outwardly from the side of the huller breast I6. The disposition and curve of the cam face is such that as the cam member I8 is swung through the movement of the hand lever 24 and link 23, said cam face will force the huller breast.

I8 outwardly away from the inner ginning breast I4. Continued movement of the lever 24 will swing the cam member I8 to the position shown in Figure 2, whereby the pin 22 is engaged in the recess 2I at the lower end of the cam face 28 of said member I8. When said recess has been engaged by the pin 22 the pivotal connection 22' between the arm 28' and the lower end of the link 23 has moved to a point below the pivot I8 of thecam member. In other words, the point 22' is below the transverse shaft I8 in a horizontal plane. Since it is below such point, it will be seen that it has been swu g past center which will serve to lock the parts in this position. Therefore, it will be seen that there is no danger of the huller breast I 6 swinging into its closed position accidentally, because itwill take a certain pull on the lever 24 which has moved to the position shown in Figure 2 to cause the link 23 to travel upwardly to again return the cam member III to its original position.

From the above it will be seen that the cam member, link 23 and manual operated lever 24 provide a simple means which will swing the huller breast I6 either to its outer or open position or will return to'its inner or closed position. The actuation of the cam member I8 is accomplished quickly and easily by merely grasping the handle 24f of the lever 24. There is no dissembling of any parts of the gin front necessary to dump the contents of the roll box A therefrom.

It has been found that a single manually operated lever 24 is sufficient, and therefore only one of the cam members I8 is provided with the hand lever 24. The other cam member I8 has the upper end of its link 23 pivoted to a rocker arm 21, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. The rocker arm is fixed to the transverse shaft 25 and since the lever 24 is also fastened on said shaft, it will be obvious that a swinging of the lever 24 will rotate said shaft, which in turn will swing the rocker arm 21 to actuate the other cam member I8 simultaneously with the actuation of the first cam member I8. It'is noted that providing the two cam members, one on each, side of the huller breast I6 that a more rigid and even movement of the huller breast I B may be had. If only a single member were provided there would be a tendency for the huller breast to twist transversely when said member was operated.

It will be seen that when the huller breast I6 is swung outwardly, through the actuation of the cam members I8, that the huller ribs I5 will be moved from between the saws. I2 within the gin. Therefore, when the huller breast I6 is returned to its original or closed position it is essential that the huller ribs I5 be again aligned exactly with the ginning ribs I3 between the saws I2. If the ribs are not exactly in alignment, the efiiciency of the operation of the gin will be decreased. To provide for this alignment of the huller ribs I5 exactly with the ginning ribs I3, the outer side of each end of the huller breast I6 is provided with a keeper 30. The keeper is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6 and is preferably angular in cross-section having one leg 30' extending outwardly from the end wall of the huller breast. This leg 30' is provided with a suitable opening 3| near its outer end. The other leg of the keeper is fastened to the end wall of the huller breast by a suitable cap screw 32. Suitably secured in each end wall of the inner breast I4 at the lower end thereof is a dowel pin 33 which extends forwardly from said breast. The dowel pin 33 is so located as to engage the opening 3I in the leg 30' of the keeper 30 when the huller breast I6 is in a closed or inner position. The edges of the opening 3I are preferably beveled, while the dowel pin has its end rounded, whereby when the breast I6 is returned to an inner position after having been swung outwardly, the pin 33 will be guided into the opening 3I. When the pin is centered within said opening the proper alignment of the huller breast I6 with the inner breast I4 is had, whereby the alignment of the huller ribs I5 with the ginning ribs I3 is correct.

Due to the fact that in different gins, there might be a variation in the positioning of the huller ribs I5 therein, It is sometimes necessary to vary the alignment of the huller breast It with the inner breast I4. In other words it might be necessary that the huller breast, when in its inner position, is one-eighth of an inch out of alignment with the inner breast I4. This is necessary to properly align the huller ribs between the ginning saws I2. In such case shims 34 may be inserted between the rear side of the angular keeper 30 and the end wall of the huller breast I6. It is obvious that by employing more or less of the shims, that the opening 3I in the outwardly extending leg 30 of the keeper may be moved closer or further away from the end wall of the huller breast I6. If it is positioned further away it will be obvious that when the dowels enter said opening the end wall of the huller breast I6 will be moved a little further inwardly with relation to the end wall of the inner breast I4, than it'would be if the opening 3| were positioned closer to the wall of said huller breast. Through the use" of the shims and the particular construction of the keeper 30, it is possible to ex- From the above it will be seen that a simple and efficient means is provided for readily swinging the huller breast I6 outwardly from the inner ginning breast I4, whereby the contents of the roll box A may easily escape through the seed outlet between the huller ribs I 5 .and the ginning ribs I3. handle 24' of the lever 24 and swing the said lever to the position shown in Figure 2. This will swing the huller breast I6 outwardly as shown in this figure and due to the swinging of the pivotal connection 22' of the lower end of the link 23 with the arm 20 past the horizontal center of the transverse shaft I8 on which the cam members I8 are pivoted, the parts are locked in this position. There is no danger of the huller breast I6 swinging back to its inner or closed position accidentally, and therefore said breast cannot be returned to its original position until such time as the operator again grasps the handle 24' .and swings the lever 24 to its original position. When it is so swung the weight of the lower end of the huller breast I6 will, of course, cause the same to swing inwardly to the breast I4 and the hook I9 of the cam member I8 will engage over the outwardly extending pin 22 on said huller breast. Since the pivotal connection 23' between the upper end of the links 23 with the lever 24 and rocker arm 21 is swung past the vertical center of the transverse shaft 25, it will be seen that the parts are locked in position when the huller breast I6 has been returned to its closed position. While swinging to an inner position, the huller breast I e is guided into its proper alignment with the inner breast I4 by the dowel pin 33 and keeper 3, whereby the huller ribs I5 are properly aligned between the ginning saws I2. It is obvious thatno adjustments are necessary in the connection of the links 23 with their respective ports. It might be necessary in applying the lifting means to various sized gins to lengthen or shorten the links 23 and for this purpose the adjustable screw bolts and lock nuts 35 are provided. This adjustment may be accomplished quickly and easily. The adjustment of the keeper 3G by the removing or inserting of the shims 34 is also readily accomplished by merely removing the cap screws 32 and making such removal or insertion.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown another way of locking the parts in their respective positions when the huller breast I6 is swung to its inner or closed position. In this form the curve in the upper end of the links 23 is eliminated and said link is pivotally connected at a point 35 to the lever 24. This pivotal connection is at a point which is not beyond the vertical center of the transverse shaft 25 and therefore no locking action is had betweenthe pivot points. However, for holding the lever in this position a fiat spring The operator merely has to grasp the 36 is suitably secured to the end wall of the inner breast I 4. The outer end of this spring is bent upon itself to form a,lug 31 which engages the edge of the lever 24, as is clearly shown in Figure 8. So long as the spring 36 is in its normal position it will be obvious that it will prevent the downward swinging of the lever 24 to operate the cam members l8. When it is desired to swing said lever 24, it is only necessary to manually depress the spring whereby the lever 24 will clear said spring on its downward swing. After the huller breast has been swung outwardly it will be obvious that the position of the hand lever will be as shown in Figure 2 and will not be opposite the flat spring 36. Thus the spring 36 has returned to its normal or outer position. Therefore when the huller breast I 6 is again swung inwardly through the upward swinging of the handle, it will be obvious that the handle during its upward swing will engage the outer face of the spring, 36 to depress the same and permit the passage of. the lever thereby. As soon as the lever has swung to a point beyond the outer end of the spring 36, said spring will immediately spring to its normal position whereby downward movement of the handle is again arrested, until such time as the spring 36 is again manually depressed. It is pointed out that various ways of locking the lever, links, and cam in their respective positions when the huller breast I6 is either swung inwardly or outwardly may be devised, and the invention is not to be limited to any particular type of locking means.

The simplicity of the lifting means permits the huller breast I6 to be swung outwardly to empty the contents of the roll box A in a minimum amount of time. The only time necessary is such time as it will take to swing the hand I to lever 24 from one position to another. The parts may be returned to theiroriginal position just as easily and quickly. There is no necessity of removing any of the front walls of the cotton gin and further the escape of the contents of the roll box is accomplished automatically by gravity. There is no need for the trash or seeds in the roll box being removed by hand, as is the usual practice. It is further noted that the swinging of the huller breast I 6 may be accomplished without stopping the operating mechanism of the gin. In other, words the saws l2 may continue to operate during the swinging of said breast.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A breast lifting device including, means pivoted on the inner breast of a cotton gin, means on the hinged outer breast of said gin arranged to be engaged by the pivoted means when the latter is swung to move the outer breast outwardly away from the inner breast to an open position, operable means'pivotally connected to said pivoted means for swinging said pivoted means to efiect a dumping of the roll, means carried by said pivoted means for locking the outer breast in its open or closed position, and means for aligning the outer breast with the inner breast whereby after the outer breast has been swung and is returned to its closed position, the huller ribs of the gin which are carried by said outer breast are aligned with the'ginning saws of said cotton gin.

2. A breast lifting device including, means pivoted on the inner breast of a cotton gin, means on the hinged outer breast of said gin arranged to be engaged by the pivoted means when the latter is swung to move the outer breast outwardly away from the inner breast to an open position, manually operatedmeans pivotally connected to said pivoted means for swinging the pivoted means to effect a dumping of the roll, means carried by said pivoted means for locking the outer breast in an open or closed position, and I means for aligning the outer breast with the inner breast whereby after the outer breast has been swung and is returned to its closed position, the huller ribs of the gin which are carried by said outer breast are aligned with the ginning saws of said cotton gin.

3. A breast lifting device including, cam members pivoted on each end wall of the inner breast of a cotton gin, an outwardly extending pin on each end of the outer pivoted breast of said gin and arranged to be engaged by the cam members when the latter are swung, whereby the outer breast is swung outwardly to an open position when said cam members are swung, operating means pivotally connected to said cam for swin ing said members, and means carried by said cam for locking the outer breast in either its open.

or closed position.

4. A breast lifting device including, cam members pivoted on each end wall of the inner breast of a cotton gin, an outwardly extending pin on each end of the outer pivoted breast of said gin and arranged tobe engaged by the cam members when the latter are swung, whereby the outer breast is swung outwardly to an open position when said cam members are swung, operating means pivotally connected to said cam for swinging said members, means carried by said cam for locking the outer breast in either its open or closed position, and means for aligning the outer breast with the inner breast when the former is returned to a closed position after having been swung through the operation of the cam member, whereby the huller ribs of the gin which are carried by said outer breast are aligned with the ginning saws.

5. A breast lifting device including, a pair of cam members which .are pivoted one on each outer side wall of the inner breast of a cotton gin, outwardly extending pins on the outer breast of said gin and arranged to be engaged by the pivoted cam members when the members are swung, whereby the outer breast is swung either inwardly or outwardly to its open or closed position, means on the cam member for receiving the pins said means being at the ends of the cam member to retain the outer breast in its extreme positions, a manually operated lever pivoted near the upper end of the inner breast, and means for connecting said lever with the cam members whereby swinging of the lever will swing said members to control the movement of the outer breast.

6. A breast lifting device including, a pair of cam members which are pivoted one on each outer side wall of the inner breast of a cotton gin, outwardly extending pins on the outer breast of said gin and arranged to be engaged by the pivoted cam members when the members are swung, whereby the outer breast is swung either inwardly or outwardly to its open or closed position, means on the cam member for receiving the pins said means being at the ends of the cam member to retain the outer breast in its extreme positions, a manually operated lever pivoted near the upper end of the inner breast, and adjustable means for connecting said lever with the cam members whereby swinging of the lever will swing said members to control the movement of the outer breast, the connection of the adjustable means 7 with the cam members and the lever being such that when the outer breast is in either its completely open or completely closed position, the cam members are located in such position, whereby danger of the outer breast accidentally moving from such position is eliminated.

7. In a breast lifting device, the combination with the inner breast and the outer breast of a cotton lint'removing machine, of a member pivoted on. the inner breast and having a locking element, an abutment on the outer breast engaged by the locking element of the member for normally locking the outer breast in its inward position, means on the pivoted member for engaging the abutment to swing the outer breast outwardly when said member is swung, and means for swinging the pivoted member to unlock the element from the abutment and to swing the outer breast outwardly.

8. In a breast lifting device, the combination with the inner breast and the outer breast of a cotton lint removing machine, of a member pivoted on the inner breast and having a locking element, an abutment on the outer breast engaged by the locking element of the member for normally locking the outer breast in its inward position, means on the pivoted member for engaging the abutment to swing the outer breast outwardly when said member is swung, means for swinging the pivoted member to unlock the element from the abutment and to swing the outer breast outwardly, and means on the pivoted member for engaging the abutment to hold the outer breast in its outer position.

9. In a breast lifting device, the combination with the inner breast and the outer breast of a cotton lint removing machine, of a member pivoted on the inner breast and having a locking element, an abutment on the outer breast engaged by the locking element of the member for normally locking the outer breast in its inward position, means on the pivoted member for engaging the abutment to swing the outer breast outwardly when said member is swung, means for swinging the pivoted member to unlock the element from the abutment and to swing the outer breast outwardly, and means to latch-the swinging means whereby the pivoted member is latched.

JOHN BLEWETI. 

